David Warner cops ICC fine for comments about Proteas' ball-scuffing tactics in second Test

Updated
Fri 28 Feb 2014, 2:59 PM AEDT

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Another blow ... David Warner has stayed away from serious controversy for the last few months but is back in trouble with the ICC.

AFP: Alexander Joe

David Warner was fined almost $3,000 by the ICC for his controversial comments regarding the reverse swing South Africa generated in the second Test.

The ICC cited Warner for making "public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an international match", with the opener handing over 15 per cent of his match fee.

Warner, speaking on Sky Sports Radio, suggested Australia should ask the umpires about the legality of Proteas wicketkeeper AB de Villiers using his glove to "wipe the rough side every ball".

"It was disrespectful for David to publicly denigrate an opponent," said match referee Roshan Mahanama.

It was disrespectful for David to publicly denigrate an opponent. I'm sure David will be careful when making public comments in future.

Match referee Roshan Mahanama

"I'm sure David will be careful when making public comments in future."

Ryan Harris attempted to distance his side from Warner's controversial comments.

"I've got no doubt what they did was fine, otherwise the umpires and the match referee would have done something," Harris said.

"They've obviously looked after the ball a lot better than us, and if there's anything illegal about it, I'm sure we would have heard about it by now."

The issue has dominated the lead-up to the three-Test series decider at Newlands in Cape Town, which starts on Saturday.

Proteas unhappy about ball-tampering claims

Warner's past off-the-cuff colourful remarks in the series have been viewed internally by the Proteas and Cricket South Africa as harmless.

But they have taken great offence to his latest line, with coach Russell Domingo warning it had his team fired up for the third Test.